JULY 22, 2005

The FIA changes its mind

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has voted to accept the recommendation of the FIA Senate to drop the guilty verdicts which they made on June 29 against seven teams which pulled into the pitlane and did not take part in the United States Grand Prix. The FIA says that "new evidence" brought about the change of mind but has not given any details about this, leading to speculation in F1 circles that it was simply a neat way for the federation to back down from its extreme position.

It is worth noting that the FIA press release states that the council voted "overwhelmingly" to accept the recommendation. Most FIA votes are carried unanimously but obviously this was not one of them.